{"id":10473,"date":"2015-01-13T11:00:15","date_gmt":"2015-01-13T11:00:15","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.harleytherapy.co.uk\/counselling\/?p=10473"},"modified":"2023-01-23T12:00:00","modified_gmt":"2023-01-23T12:00:00","slug":"depression-in-children","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.harleytherapy.co.uk\/counselling\/depression-in-children.htm","title":{"rendered":"Is My Child Depressed?"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"depression<\/a>We tend to associate being a child with being carefree, and not with depression.<\/strong> But depression and mental health challenges are far from just for adults.<\/p>\n

In the UK, the Office of National Statistics suggests that 1 in 10 children suffer a mental health condition, with at least 4% of this number suffering anxiety and depression.<\/span><\/p><\/blockquote>\n

What are the signs of depression<\/span><\/a> in children? And when should you be concerned about your child or consider hiring a child psychotherapist<\/span><\/a>?<\/p>\n

7 SIGNS YOUR CHILD MIGHT BE DEPRESSED<\/h3>\n

Children can be more emotional than adults, and a certain amount of mood swings is part of being a kid. So how can a parent tell if their child is depressed, or just a typical child with ups and downs as they navigate growing up?<\/p>\n

\"depression<\/a>1. Your child is exhibiting emotional responses that are not usual for him or her.<\/strong> Are they more irritable than you’ve seen them? Moping about and not wanting to play with their toys?<\/p>\n

2.Their moods are lasting much longer than usual. or are changing far too quickly.<\/strong> If they were always the sort to have a quick temper tantrum but be fine an hour later, but suddenly seem stroppy for entire afternoons, it can be a sign your child is suffering anxiety or depression. So can incessant rapid changes in mood.<\/p>\n

Don’t think that just because your kid isn’t sad he or she isn’t depressed. While adults tend to be down when depressed, children can instead become more frustrated and irritable than usual, perhaps because they don’t have the experience or understanding to describe how they are feeling.<\/span><\/p><\/blockquote>\n

3. Their unusual behaviour goes on for weeks. <\/strong>Depression is, if anything, persistent. Normal moods come and go. Depression goes on for weeks or months.<\/p>\n

4. Their behaviour doesn’t seem connected to circumstance<\/strong>. If they are sad and weepy but tell you they don’t know why, or if they are angry with a sibling who has \"depression<\/a>done nothing wrong, it might be a red flag. While normal grumpiness relates to an obvious incident, depression and anxiety can cause irrational emotional swings and outbursts that don’t seem based on anything.<\/p>\n

5. Your child’s emotions are affecting their functioning on a daily basis.<\/strong> Have teachers reported changes in their focus or ability? Do they seem uninterested in their hobbies or friends, are they socially withdrawing? Seem oversensitive to rejection? Depression in children, like for adults, often causes one to struggle with things they once enjoyed and to feel oversensitive around others.<\/p>\n

6. They are using a depressed perspective and phrases of doom and gloom. <\/strong>Children can be dramatic, naturally. But pay attention for changes in what your child talks about. For starters, does it match what is really happening to them? Are they telling you that nobody likes them even when their friends are calling them? Then look for expressions of low confidence, such as ‘I am no good at anything’, or ‘nothing good ever happens to me’. And like adults, kids, too, can have thoughts around death when depressed, saying things like ‘I wish I had never been born’.<\/p>\n

7. Your child is exhibiting regressed behaviour.<\/strong> Are they suddenly whining, clinging, or otherwise acting less independent than usual? Are they sucking their thumb again, or even using babytalk? Wetting the bed again for the first time in years?<\/p>\n

In summary, signs of depression in children can include:<\/strong><\/p>\n